U.S. patent number 5,896,610 [Application Number 09/060,587] was granted by the patent office on 1999-04-27 for method for dislodging a submersible swimming pool cleaner.
Invention is credited to Brian H. Phillipson, Pavel Sebor.
United States Patent |
5,896,610 |
Sebor , et al. |
April 27, 1999 |
Method for dislodging a submersible swimming pool cleaner
Abstract
A steering device is attached to a submersible swimming pool
cleaner for aiding in turning the cleaner away pool side wall
engaging positions and thus allowing the cleaner to move across
pool surfaces for performing its cleaning function. The steering
device includes elongated rods extending from a connector fitting
attached to the pool cleaner hose connector. Driven gears of the
pool cleaner connector drive the steering device and cause rod ends
engaging a pool side wall to lift and push the cleaner away from
the side wall. The fitting and thus the rods are freely rotatable
through a limited arc about an axis of rotation of the connector,
defined by movement of a gear tooth between stop prongs. The
ability of the rods to rotate freely within this arc overcomes a
problem of excess drag to the cleaner by the steering device.
Further, the rods extend radially outward and downward form the
fitting such that the rod tips engage the side wall and initiate a
ratchet-like action against the side wall surface which results in
an upward force acting on the cleaner for reducing friction between
cleaner ground engaging portions and the pool bottom wall surface,
thus making it easier to rotate the cleaner for movement along pool
surfaces to be cleaned.
Inventors: |
Sebor; Pavel (Heathrow, FL),
Phillipson; Brian H. (Longwood, FL) |
Family
ID: |
24875194 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/060,587 |
Filed: |
April 15, 1998 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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715715 |
Sep 19, 1996 |
5740576 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
15/1.7; 134/18;
138/120; 15/246; 138/118; 134/22.11; 138/103; 134/21; 210/416.2;
15/246.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H
4/1654 (20130101); E04H 4/1636 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E04H
4/00 (20060101); E04H 4/16 (20060101); E04H
004/16 (); A47L 001/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;15/1.7,246,246.2
;134/18,21,22.11 ;210/416.2 ;138/118,103,120 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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2005993 |
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May 1979 |
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GB |
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2153209 |
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Aug 1985 |
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GB |
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Primary Examiner: Knode; Marian C.
Assistant Examiner: Salimi; Ali R.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Allen, Dyer, Doppelt, Milbrath
& Gilchrist, P.A.
Parent Case Text
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a divisional application Ser. No. 08/715,715
filed Sep. 19, 1996 and issuing as U.S. Pat. No. 5,740,576,
commonly owned with the present application.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for steering a swimming pool cleaner away from a pool
side wall, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a swimming pool cleaner having a rotatably driven hose
connector;
providing an elongated rod having a proximal end and a distal
end;
attaching the elongated rod proximal end to the connector;
extending the rod radially outward from the connector for placing
the rod distal end beyond a perimeter plane of the cleaner;
rotating the connector for engaging a pool side wall during
operation of the cleaner within a swimming pool; and
biasing the rod distal end against the pool side wall for turning
the cleaner away from the wall.
2. The pool cleaner steering method according to claim 1, wherein
the rod attaching step comprises the steps of:
attaching a fitting around the connector; and
attaching the rod proximal end to the fitting.
3. The pool cleaner steering method according to claim 1, further
comprising the steps of:
providing additional elongated rods, each having a proximal end and
a distal end;
attaching the proximal ends of each additional rod to the
connector; and
extending the distal ends of each additional rod radially outward
from the connector for placing each of the additional rod distal
ends beyond a perimeter plane of the cleaner.
4. The pool cleaner steering method according to claim 3, further
comprising the steps of:
providing a ring; and
attaching the ring to the distal ends of the rods for engaging the
side wall with the ring.
5. The pool cleaner steering method according to claim 1, further
comprising the step of attaching a rubber tip to the rod distal end
for engaging the pool side wall with the rubber tip.
6. The pool steering method according to claim 1, further
comprising the step of inclining the elongated rod downwardly from
the connector for placing the distal end in a lower plane than the
proximal end.
7. The pool cleaner steering method according to claim 1, wherein
the rod proximal end attaching step includes removably attaching
the rod to the connector.
8. The pool cleaner steering method according to claim 2, wherein
the rod proximal end attaching step includes the step of removably
attaching the rod to the fitting.
9. The pool cleaner steering method according to claim 1, further
comprising the steps of:
providing a sleeve for receiving the connector, the sleeve having a
distal end for engaging a hose and a proximal end for rotatably
receiving a fitting, the sleeve proximal end having a stop
extending therefrom;
providing a fitting having a bore for receiving the sleeve proximal
end, the bore having a groove for slidable receiving the sleeve
stop therein, the fitting further having a stop pair positioned
within the groove;
placing the sleeve onto the connector;
slidable attaching the fitting to the sleeve for free movement of
the sleeve stop between the groove stop pair; and
wherein the rod attaching step comprises the step of attaching the
rod proximal end to the fitting, the rod being rotatable with the
driven connector and freely rotatable within an arc defined by a
spacing between the stop pair.
10. A method for steering a swimming pool cleaner away from a pool
side wall, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a swimming pool cleaner having a connector rotatably
carried by a cleaner housing, the housing having a chamber in fluid
communication with the connector, the cleaner further having an
oscillator carried within the chamber for providing a vibratory
motion to the oscillator as fluid flows through the chamber to the
connector, the cleaner further having gear means for providing a
rotational movement to the connector during operation of the
cleaner;
attaching a hose to the connector for providing fluid flow through
the chamber;
removably attaching a fitting to the connector;
attaching a plurality of elongated rods to the fitting for
extending one end of each rod radially outward and beyond a
perimeter plane of the cleaner;
rotating the connector during the cleaner operation within a
swimming pool; and
biasing at least one rod distal end against a pool side wall for
turning the cleaner away from the side wall.
11. The pool steering method according to claim 10, further
comprising the step of inclining the elongated rods downwardly from
the connector for placing the ends biasing against the pool side
wall at a lower plane than the connector and thus providing a
ratchet like force to the cleaner when biasing the rod ends against
the pool side wall.
12. The pool cleaner steering method according to claim 10, further
comprising the steps of:
providing a ring; and
attaching the ring to the rod ends for positioning the ring beyond
the cleaner perimeter plane and thus frictionally engaging the side
wall with the ring.
13. The pool cleaner steering method according to claim 10, further
comprising the step of attaching a rubber tip to each rod end
extending beyond the cleaner perimeter plane for frictionally
engaging the rubber tip with the pool side wall.
14. The pool cleaner steering method according to claim 10, further
comprising the steps of:
providing a sleeve for receiving the connector, the sleeve having a
distal end for engaging a hose and a proximal end for rotatably
receiving a fitting, the sleeve proximal end having a stop
extending therefrom;
providing a fitting having a bore for receiving the sleeve proximal
end, the bore having a groove for slidable receiving the sleeve
stop therein, the fitting further having a stop pair positioned
within the groove;
placing the sleeve onto the connector;
slidable attaching the fitting to the sleeve for free movement of
the sleeve stop between the groove stop pair; and
wherein each rod attaching step comprises the step of attaching
each rod to the fitting, the rod being rotatable with the driven
connector and freely rotatable within an arc defined by a spacing
between the stop pair, the free rotation reducing drag of rod ends
against the side wall after the cleaner turning away from the
wall.
15. The pool cleaner steering method according to claim 14, wherein
the spacing between the stop pair permits free rotation of the rods
within a sixty degree arc about the connector.
Description
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The invention relates generally to steering of swimming pool
cleaners, and more particularly to the steering of pool cleaners
operable with a suction hose attached to a rotatably driven hose
coupling.
2. Description of Background Art
Typically, when the contour of a pool surface is such that a
portion of the cleaner body is able to contact the pool side walls
while another portion of the cleaner is in contact with the pool
bottom surface, the cleaner has a likely chance of becoming stuck
against the pool surfaces. This is often the case for pool side
walls which are generally perpendicular to the pool bottom surface,
a "square bottomed" pool. In such circumstances, the drag induced
on the cleaner body will over-ride or may substantially impair the
cleaner operation and its normal steering operations, causing the
cleaner to remain in one position or stay at that position for an
inordinate amount of time. Further, the cleaner may be forced to
travel parallel to the side wall, or along pool steps. The results
are improper pool cleaner operation and an inadequate pool
cleaning.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,521,933 describes a random steering device for a
submerged suction cleaning head for cleaning swimming pools in
which there is a suction hose connecting with the head in a
direction generally perpendicular to the surface on which the
suction head moves. The steering device operates by intermittently
applying torque about the axis of the suction hose where it enters
the suction head. The torque is applied by a water motor driven by
water flowing from the suction head along the suction hose.
U.S. Patent No. 5,404,607 describing a self-propelled submersible
suction cleaner transfers a vibratory movement of an oscillator
located within a flow path of a suction chamber for propulsion of
the cleaner over a submerged surface of a pool. The oscillator
vibratory movement is also converted to a unidirectional rotation
of a gear train for rotating the cleaner to improve on the random
movement of the cleaner over the pool surface and to maneuver the
cleaner away from obstacles such as pool steps which can often stop
cleaner movement, as earlier suggested. Flow through the cleaner
flow path is caused by connecting the suction chamber to a filter
pump and motor by a flexible hose, well known in the art. The hose
is connected to a pool cleaner coupling which is rotatably
connected to the gear train for rotating the coupling and thus the
cleaner about the flexible hose. By its very nature, the flexible
hose has rotational play and does not completely transfer the
rotational forces applied by the rotating coupling to rotation of
the cleaner.
The present invention provides an additional steering mechanism for
such pool cleaners by providing a level of steering force from
other than the rotating flexible hose.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to aid in the steering of
pool cleaners. Further, it is an object to provide steering to a
cleaner which typically relies on rotating of a hose connector for
turning the cleaner. It is further an object of the invention to
provide steering for a pool cleaner employing steering forces
derived from other than a rotation of a flexible hose, and to
provide steering for a cleaner that has no other steering
mechanisms.
This and other objects, advantages, and features of the present
invention are provided by a steering device useful with a
submersible pool cleaner having a rotatably driven hose connector.
The steering device comprises a fitting for engaging a cleaner hose
connector, multiple elongated rods radially extending from the
fitting, each rod having a proximal end attached to the fitting for
extending the rod radially outward from the connector, the rod
having a length dimension for extending a rod distal end beyond a
perimeter plane of the cleaner for preventing the cleaner from
contacting a pool side wall surface during movement of the cleaner
over a pool bottom wall surface, and means for rotating the
connector and thus the fitting for moving the rods about the
connector axis, whereby the rod distal end engages the pool side
wall for biasing the rod distal end against the side wall for
turning the cleaner.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
A preferred embodiment of the invention as well as alternate
embodiments are described by way of example with reference to the
accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pool cleaner steering device
operable with a submersible swimming pool cleaner;
FIG. 2 is a rear view of the cleaner and steering device of FIG.
1;
FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the cleaner and steering device of
FIG. 1;
FIG. 3a is a top plan view of an alternate embodiment of the
steering device of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the steering
device of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional top plan view of the steering
device of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of a prior art drive gear
assembly and rotatably driven cleaner connector;
FIG. 7 is a partial top view of a prior art pool cleaner connector
illustrating engagement of the drive gear assembly with connector
gear teeth;
FIG. 8 is a partial view of the prior art drive gear assembly of
FIG. 6 operable with a pool cleaner oscillator; and
FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional side view of a prior art pool
cleaner suction chamber illustrating operation of the oscillator
with water flow through the chamber.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter
with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred
embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may,
however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be
construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather,
these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be
thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the
invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like
elements throughout.
Referring now to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of a steering
device 10 of the present invention is attached to a swivel hose
connector 12 of a pool cleaner 14 having a style as described in
the Sebor '607 patent referenced earlier in the background section
of this specification. The connector 12 is typically tapered for
easy attachment of a hose end connector 13. As illustrated here, by
way of example, if a pool side wall surface 16 and bottom surface
18 have a small transition radius surface 20, as is typical for the
square-bottomed swimming pools, the device 10 engages the side wall
surface 16 and provides a bias against the side wall surface 16
with sufficient force provided by the torque of the rotating
connector 12 for turning the cleaner away from the side wall
surface 16 thereby enabling the cleaner 14 to continue on its
intended path along the pool surfaces to be cleaned. It is
anticipated that alternate cleaner structures will have a driven
rotatable member where the device 10 can be attached for operation
as herein described.
As illustrated with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, and again with
reference to FIG. 1, the device 10 herein described is attached to
the pool cleaner hose connector 12. For the embodiment herein
described by way of example, a central tubular fitting 22 is
friction fitted to the pool cleaner swivel hose connector 12. To
conform with a tapered connector 12, the fitting 22 will have a
tapered bore 23, as illustrated with reference to FIG. 4. Alternate
connecting surfaces are anticipated for accommodating alternate
connector structures. A hose is then attached to a top portion 26
of the fitting 22. As illustrated with reference to FIGS.1 through
3, the device 10 includes elongated rods 28 having a proximal end
30 attached to the fitting 22 and which extend radially outward
from the fitting 22. The rods 28 have a length 32 such that a rod
distal end 34 is positioned beyond a perimeter plane 36 of the
cleaner 14. At least part of the device 10 needs to extend beyond
the dimensions of the cleaner 14 and by way of example with the
Sebor '607 cleaner 14 beyond its housing and ground engaging
mechanism, so that the cleaner 14 can operate as intended including
rotating without touching the side wall surface 16. With such a
length 32, the rod distal end 34 will make contact with the pool
side wall surface 16 during rotation of the connector 12, the
attached fitting 22, and thus the rods 28. As indicated by arrow
38, again with reference to FIG. 3, resultant forces on the side
wall surface 16 through contact of rod distal end tip 40 with and
biasing against the pool side wall surface 16. The tip 40 is placed
in frictional contact with the side wall surface 16. With such
biasing, the cleaner 14 is turned in an opposite direction as
illustrated with arrow 42 and thus permitted to move away from the
side wall surface 16 to complete its intended task. The biasing
herein described provides additional turning or steering forces
that otherwise are not provided by the simple twisting of the hose
24 caused by the rotation of the connector 12.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the steering
device 10, as illustrated with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, is
removably attached to the pool cleaner driven hose connector 12,
earlier described. It is anticipated that alternate embodiment
include a device 10 integrally formed with the cleaner 14, such as
with the cleaner connector 12. Further, in the embodiment herein
described, rods 28 have equivalent lengths 32, wherein the tips 40
lie within a circular locus 44, varying length rods 28 are
anticipated for specific alternate uses. Further, connecting tips
40 can form a ring or shape 45 extending beyond the cleaner
merimeter plane 36, as illustrated with reference to FIG. 3a.
Further, in one preferred embodiment of the device, six rods 28 are
described, as illustrated again with reference to FIG. 5, the rods
28 acting as spokes extending from a rotating hub. It is
anticipated that each rod 28, in one embodiment, can be removed for
replacement. In another preferred embodiment, the device 10
includes the rods 28 integrally formed with the tubular fitting 22.
The tip 40 includes rubber tip elements 46, as illustrated again
with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, in one embodiment.
Again with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, a preferred embodiment of
the invention includes the connector 12 rotatably driven by a
cleaner drive gear assembly 48, by way of example, as described in
the Sebor '607 patent, and as herein illustrated with reference to
FIGS. 6, 7 and 8. A driven gear 50 rotates during movement of the
cleaner 14 through translation of reciprocating angular movement 52
of an oscillator 54 into a unidirectional rotation 56 of a driving
gear 58 through the use of a ratchet and pawl assembly 60. As
described in the Sebor '607 patent, water flow 62 through a cleaner
chamber 64 and out through the connector 12, as illustrated with
reference to FIG. 9, imposes a vibratory motion to the oscillator
54, a vibratory movement to the cleaner 14, and its movement across
pool surfaces during cleaner operation. The driven gear 58 is used
within the drive gear assembly 48 to engage connector gears 66 for
rotating the connector 12 and providing the torque to the hose 24
for turning the cleaner 14 and steering device 10, as earlier
described. The gear assembly 48 can be arranged for alternately
turning the cleaner 14 in opposing directions.
Typically, an interval gear 68 contains a compliment of teeth, as
illustrated again with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, interval gear
teeth 70, arranged for rotating the cleaner 14 through an arc of
rotation and may release any torque applied to the hose after the
turn. With this arrangement, excess twisting of the hose 24 is
eliminated. The device 10 provides the driving forces against the
pool side wall surface 16 to move the cleaner 14 away from the
surface 16 and overcome this relaxing of hose torque. Thus, as
earlier described, the rods 28 of the steering device 10
frictionally engage the surface 16 and effectively hold the cleaner
14 away from the side wall surface 16 to permit movement of the
cleaner 14 away from the surface 16.
Once the steering device 10 has freed the cleaner 14 for normal
movement, it has been found that the cleaner 14 will tend to travel
generally parallel to and along the pool side wall surface 16. It
is therefore important that the device 10 not add drag to the
cleaner 14 through biasing forces against the side wall surfaces.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, again illustrated with
reference to FIG. 5, the fitting 22 and thus the rods 28 are freely
rotatable through a limited arc 72 defined by movement of a first
tooth or prong 74 between stop prongs 76, 78. In one embodiment of
the present invention, this arc 72 is approximately sixty degrees.
The ability of the rods 28 to rotate freely within this arc 72
overcomes the problem of excess drag to the cleaner 14 by the
device 10. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the prongs
74, 76, 78 are angled 80 downwardly from a horizontal plane 82
passing therethrough, as are the rods 28. With such an arrangement
for the rods 28, when the tips 40 engage the side wall 16, the
angled rods 28 initiate a ratchet-like action against the side wall
surface 28 which results in an upward force acting on the cleaner
14. Such an upward force reduces friction between cleaner ground
engaging means 84 and the pool bottom wall surface 18, making it
easier to rotate the cleaner 14.
In one embodiment of the present invention, and as illustrated
again with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the fitting 22 includes a
sleeve 86 which receives the pool cleaner connector 12. The sleeve
86 includes a distal end 88 for engaging the hose connector 13 and
a sleeve proximal end 90 having the first prong 74 herein earlier
described. In this embodiment, six prongs 74 are used but other
amounts are applicable depending the arc 72 or structure
preselected. The sleeve proximal end 90 is rotatably attached
within a fitting retaining groove 92 which has the stop prongs 76,
78, earlier described attached within the groove 92. It is
anticipated that alternate structures will be devised that permit
the limited rotation of the rods 28 about a connector axis without
departing from the teaching of the present invention.
Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come
to the mind of one skilled in the art having the benefit of the
teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the
associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the
invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments
disclosed, and that modifications and alternate embodiments are
intended to be included within the scope of the appended
claims.
* * * * *